Stacked can cooler

ABSTRACT

A stacked can cooler, including a cup cooler to allow a first beverage can to be disposed therein, a top ring removably attached to a top portion of the cup cooler, an extension cup cooler to allow a second beverage can to be disposed therein, and a bottom cap removably attached to a bottom portion of the extension cup cooler.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present general inventive concept relates generally a stacked can cooler to allow multiple cans to retain a cool temperature simultaneously and separately.

2. Description of the Related Art

Various types of beverage can coolers that keep cans containing beverages cold (e.g., soda, water, beer, etc.) exist on the market. Conventional beverage can coolers have been recently designed for single users, or users “on the go,” who enjoy cold beverages during camping trips, hikes, or picnics. For example, a YETI 12 oz. drink cooler holder is a portable beverage can cooler that is constructed from stainless steel with a top ring that unscrews off of the cooler to allow a user to insert therein a 12 oz. can beverage, such that the top ring can be screwed back on in order to hold the can in place to create a thermos to keep the beverage cold.

However, a single 12 oz. can often does not contain enough liquid to properly satiate the user who is very thirsty. Also, one beverage can definitely does not contain enough liquid for multiple users.

Therefore, there is a need for a larger, yet still portable, can cooler that allows more cans to be kept at a cold temperature, simultaneously.

SUMMARY

The present general inventive concept provides a stacked can cooler to allow multiple cans to retain a cool temperature simultaneously and separately.

Additional features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a stacked can cooler, including a cup cooler to allow a first beverage can to be disposed therein, a top ring removably attached to a top portion of the cup cooler, an extension cup cooler to allow a second beverage can to be disposed therein, and a bottom cap removably attached to a bottom portion of the extension cup cooler.

The stacked can cooler may further include a divider to separate the cup cooler from the extension cup cooler, such that the first beverage can does not contact the second beverage can.

A top outer portion of the cup cooler may include spiral ribs, and an inner portion of the top ring may include other spiral ribs to correspond to and be screwed together with the spiral ribs of the top outer portion of the cup cooler.

The cup cooler and the extension cup cooler may include insulated containers.

The bottom cap may screw onto a bottom portion of the extension cup cooler to secure the second beverage can within the extension cup cooler.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a side-view of a stacked can cooler according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 2 is top-view of the stacked can cooler according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and

FIG. 3 is bottom-view of the stacked can cooler according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Various example embodiments (a.k.a., exemplary embodiments) will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some example embodiments are illustrated. In the figures, the thicknesses of lines, layers and/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity.

Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the figures and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure. Like numbers refer to like/similar elements throughout the detailed description.

It is understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or ‘coupled’ to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between.” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises.” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art. However, should the present disclosure give a specific meaning to a term deviating from a meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill, this meaning is to be taken into account in the specific context this definition is given herein

FIG. 1 is a view of a stacked can cooler 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

FIG. 2 is top-view of the stacked can cooler 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

FIG. 3 is bottom-view of the stacked can cooler 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, the stacked can cooler 100 may include a top ring 110, a cup cooler 120, a divider 130, an extension cup cooler 140, and a bottom cap 150.

The cup cooler 120 may house a beverage can therein. More specifically, a user may insert the beverage can through an opening 111 at a top portion of the cup cooler 120.

The top ring 110 may also be removable (e.g., unscrewable) from a top portion of the cup cooler 120, in order to allow the user to insert the beverage can into the cup cooler 120. The top ring 110 may be re-screwed onto the cup cooler 120 when the beverage can is disposed within the cup cooler 120, in order to secure the beverage can within the cup cooler 120. The top ring 110 may have a lip 112 to provide the securing of the beverage can within the cup cooler 120. The beverage can may have a 12 ounce size, but is not limited thereto.

The extension cup cooler 140 may also house a beverage can therein. More specifically, the user may insert the beverage can through an opening at a bottom portion of the extension cup cooler 140, by unscrewing the bottom cap 150.

The divider 130 may function to provide a tight and secure space within the cup cooler 120 and the extension cup cooler 140, so that beverage cans stored therewithin do not rattle around, thereby preventing annoyance for the user.

The top ring 110 and the bottom cap 150 may each have a construction and/or properties to allow or unscrewing from the cup cooler 120 and the extension cup cooler 140, respectively. For example, the op ring 110 and the bottom cap 150 may have spiral ribs on inside portions thereof, while a top portion of the cup cooler 120 and a bottom portion of the extension cup cooler may have spiral ribs on outside portions thereof, such that the top ring 110 may be screwed onto the top portion of the cup cooler 120 to be secured thereto, and the bottom cap 150 may be screwed onto the bottom portion of the extension cup cooler 140 to be secured thereto.

It is important to note that the present general inventive concept is not limited to spiral ribs to perform the connections and attachments. In other words, any combination of various other types of connectors may be used, including, but not limited to, buttons, nozzles, protrusions, VELCRO, hooks, snaps, zippers, guides, guide holes, pegs, adhesives, suction-based connectors, and pressure-based connectors.

Although only two can coolers are described in the present general inventive concept, namely the cup cooler 120 and the extension cup cooler 140, it is not limited thereto. As a result, a limitless sleeve of beverage cans can be stacked.

The components of the stacked can cooler 100 may be constructed from various types of material to allow the beverage cans disposed therein to maintain their cold temperature. More specifically, the cup cooler 120 and the extension cup cooler 140 may be constructed from stainless steel, plastic, rubber, or any other insulatable material. As such, the cup cooler 120 may include insulation 121, and the extension cup cooler 140 may include insulation 141. Also, the extension cup cooler 140 may be waterproof, and may allow a user to insert money, credit cards, licenses, or any other small items therein.

Also, the user may utilize the stacked can cooler 100 as a “green friendly” apparatus. More specifically, after the user finishes drinking the beverage can within the cup cooler 120, the user may place the empty beverage can in the extension cup cooler 140 to store the empty beverage can until a trash can to dispose the empty beverage can is found. As such, the user prevents pollution by keeping the empty beverage can until the trash can is available for disposal.

The top ring 110 and the bottom cap 150 may also be constructed from stainless steel, plastic, rubber, or any other durable material.

Referring to FIG. 3, it is clear that the bottom cap 150 may have a flat surface 151 that is solid to allow the beverage can to be tightly compressed between the bottom cap 150 and the divider 130.

Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A stacked can cooler, comprising: a cup cooler to allow a first beverage can to be disposed therein; a top ring removably attached to a top portion of the cup cooler to prevent the first beverage can from falling out of the cup cooler in response to the cup cooler being turned upside down, and allowing a user to drink from the first beverage can when the first can is disposed within the cup cooler without removing the top ring; an extension cup cooler to allow a second beverage can to be disposed therein; and a bottom cap removably attached to a bottom portion of the extension cup cooler.
 2. The stacked can cooler of claim 1, further comprising: a divider to separate the cup cooler from the extension cup cooler, such that the first beverage can does not contact the second beverage can.
 3. The stacked can cooler of claim 1, wherein: a top outer portion of the cup cooler comprises spiral ribs; and an inner portion of the top ring comprises other spiral ribs to correspond to and be screwed together with the spiral ribs of the top portion of the cup cooler.
 4. The stacked can cooler of claim 1, wherein: the cup cooler and the extension cup cooler comprise insulated containers.
 5. The stacked can cooler of claim 1, wherein the bottom cap screws onto a bottom portion of the extension cup cooler to secure the second beverage cap within the extension cup cooler. 